The first race on Sunday, March 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack drew intense criticism on social media, focusing on the ride jockey Jose Lezcano gave the runner-up finisher Foxtail.
Foxtail was defeated a neck by Indian Bella and Trevor McCarthy, the leading pair finishing six lengths clear of the third-place horse.
Lezcano's actions during the race included multiple looks over his inside shoulder while maintaining a tight hold on Foxtail, allowing the eventual winner to surprise his mount on the outside.
According to the Equibase chart notes, Foxtail “showed in front early then was taken under a tight hold and relinquished the advantage, stalked outside the leading duo under stout restraint, engaged those leaders while still in hand in the four path around the turn, had the rider take a peek behind him at the five-sixteenths, took the advantage while the rider took five more looks to the inside into upper stretch, was asked while surprised by the presence of the winner to her outside at the three-sixteenths then lost the advantage, kept on under a drive while fighting inside that foe in the final furlong and just missed while well clear for the place.”
NYRA's vice president of communications, Pat McKenna, told Daily Racing Form's Dave Grening that the NYRA stewards spoke with Lezcano on March 6 and scheduled a “formal film review” for Friday, March 11.
Foxtail was making her first start for new owner/trainer Linda Rice after being claimed for $20,000 on Jan. 13. Foxtail's previous owners, Krakow Racing and America's Pastime Stables, are the owners of Indian Bella. Mertkan Kantarmaci trains Indian Bella.
Indian Bella was off at odds of 3.70-1, while Foxtail's odds were 2.40-1. Neither filly was the race favorite (that was fourth-place finisher Magnetique at 2.10-1).
Neither Indian Bella nor Foxtail were claimed out of the March 6 race, which offered entrants for a tag of $12,500.
hey there @TheNYRA @NYSGamingComm you REALLY need to chat with Jose Lezcano after his “ride” in the 1st today at AQU
I'd like to hear why he's looking all around waiting for the 5 to get by him
I'm anxiously awaiting your replies…@EMD4ME @LauraEAVA pic.twitter.com/p9SVEMsE4k— TracksideMikeN (@TracksideMikeN) March 6, 2022
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